The Monachus-Guardian — Headlines-News-Articles — 2008-2018
Dedicated to Monk Seals and their Threatened Habitats
Turkish NGO SAD-AFAG has confirmed that the release of two Mediterranean monk seal pups took place on 2 April 2011 along the remote coasts between Gazipaşa (Antalya) and Anamur (Mersin), one of twelve “Important Monk Seal Sites” recognised by the government of Turkey in need of protection.
The orphaned pups had been in rehab in Foça since they were rescued in separate locations on the Mediterranean coast on the 18 December 2010.
Two orphaned Mediterranean monk seal pups, under rehab in the Turkish Aegean town of Foça for the last three and a half months, will be released on 2 April, NGO SAD-AFAG has announced [Monk seal pups to be released].
The pups were both discovered on the 18 December 2010 but in separate locations: in the Bozyazı region, Mersin, and the Kas region, Antalya [see Two orphaned pups enter rehab in Foça].
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In a brief press statement issued today, Greek NGO MOm announced that Mediterranean monk seal pup ‘Nereus’ had been released into the National Marine Park of Alonnisos, Northern Sporades on Saturday March 19. Although no information was provided on the location, previous releases have occurred on uninhabited outlying islands within the Park.
The 4-month old seal, reports MOm, weighed in at 50 kg at its release. The pup was found stranded on a remote beach on the Aegean island of Kythira on 7 February, and was visibly weak and undernourished when the decision came to transfer him to the MOm rehabilitation 7 days later [Seal pup enters rehab on Alonnisos].
In contrast to previous releases, Nereus appears not to have been equipped with any post-release electronic tracking device (satellite or mobile phone). No explanation was provided in the MOm press statement, nor any indication if any form of post-release monitoring is planned.
A new postage stamp commemorating the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal has been issued by the Croatian postal service, Hrvatske pošte, reports Jasna Antolovic, of the Zagreb-based NGO Grupa Sredozemna Medvjedica (GSM). The design derives from photographs taken by Gianni Pecchiaro, a volunteer of GSM, at Verudela, Pula.
Despite earlier conjecture that the species might be effectively extinct in Croatian waters — despite sporadic sightings of vagrant animals from Greece or other areas of the Mediterranean — recent research has convinced GSM that as many as 20 monk seals may still survive in Croatian waters.
The stamp (No. 796 – Mediterranean monk seal) appears as part of a Croatian Fauna series issued by Hrvatske pošte.
Monk seal pup ‘Nereus’, currently undergoing rehabilitation on Alonnisos, is responding well to treatment, and is likely to be released within days, reports MOm.
The 3-month old pup was found stranded on a remote beach on the Aegean island of Kythira on 7 February, and was visibly weak and undernourished when the decision came to transfer him to the MOm rehabilitation unit on 13 February [Stranded pup enters rehab on Alonnisos].
“Nereus now exceeds 40 kg,” reports MOm, “consumes 6 kg of fish per day, and spends the majority of his time swimming. In a few days he will complete his treatment regimen and, upon passing veterinary and blood examinations, will be ready to bid us farewell.”
MOm has appealed for funds to assist its rehabilitation effort.
Source: Τα νέα του “Νηρέα”! / “Nireas” news! MOm press release, 10 March 2010.